Mail-bag catcher



A. w. SCHMUTZERL MAIL BAG CATCHER. 4 APPLICATION .FILED MARfIIS, 1920.

Patentd Ma 10,1921.

rareur GEMQE.

ANTON W; SCHMUTZER, OE CRANDON, WISCONSIN.

MAIL-BAG CATGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.,

Application filed March 13, 1920. Serial No. 365,616.

To 1Z1 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that l, ANTON W. SoHMUT- mm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crandon, in the county of Forest and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in safety appliances for mail bag catching apparatus; and the main object of the invention is to provide a novel form of retaining means that may be advantageously employed in connection with mail bag catchers ofthe fork type, to securely retain the mail bags in connection with the catcher after they have been delivered thereto and to prevent the accidental dislodgment of the mail bag, especially in the event that the catcher is mounted on a moving train.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved safety appliance of the above character that may be easily and quickly attached to a mail bag catcher of the conventional form so as to render the same more positive in the catching operation and, as set forth above, to securely retain the mail sack in connection therewith; the safety appliance being automatically actuated by the mail sack upon its engagement with the catcher and being also op erable manually to release the mail sack when desired.

A further object is to provide an improved appliance of the above type that is extremely simple in construction, durable, and highly practical, and one, which it is believed may be manufactured at a very low cost.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

The above and other objects which will become apparent, are accomplished by such means as are shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan showing my invention as in its preferred embodiment in connection with a mail bag catcher of substantially the conventional form.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of my in: vention showing more clearly the method of operation.

Fig. 3 is a view in detail showing a part of invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the retaining arm of the device showing in detail the cushion head thereof.

In the drawings 10 designates the main arm of the catcher which is carried by the enlarged portion 11 of the member-12; it being understood that the member 12 may be connected with a suitable support either on the mail car or the ground device. The supplementary or guiding arm 13' extends from the enlarged portion 11 at an angle with respect to the arm 10 and is slightly bent as at 14 adjacent to the enlargement and therefore forms a substantially wedgeshaped pocket for receiving the mail sack. The above mail bag catcher is of substantially the conventional form and has been shown in the drawing merely to illustrate more clearly the construction and mode of operation of my improved safety appliance. It will therefore be understood that I am not limited to the use of my invention in connection with this form of catcher and that the same may be employed in connec tion with mail bag catchers of various other types if it is so desired.

My invention consists more essentially in a retaining rod 15 which has an extension 16 formed at one end whereby it may be pivotally connected to the enlargement 11 of the catcher as at 17. It is pointed out that this extension preferably extends at a right angle with respect to the retaining rod 15 so that the latter may be normally held in a substantially parallel relation to the arm 10. The outer end of the rod 15 is curved as at 18 and carries a cushion member 19 at its respective extremity, which may be fastened in place such as shown at 20. The purpose of this cushion member will presently appear.

Adjacent the extremity 16 the rod 15 is provided with an actuating finger 21 which extends in an opposite direction to the extension 16 and is normally arranged adjacent the curved portion 14 of the arm 13. The rod 15 is also provided with a lug 22 which projects rearwardly with respect to tion of the enlargement 11 as clearly shown Cir in Fig. 2. A fastening member 26 may be positioned through the enlargement 11 and the branches of the bifurcation of the socket to retain the socket and the respective handle portion in pivotal relation to the enlargement. One of the branches of the bifurcation of the socket is formed considerablylonger than the other of the branches and p is bent at right angles to the general extent of thesocket to form an arm 27. Consequently when the socket is positioned in place as above pointed out connection between the free end of the arm 27 and the lug 22 may be established as shown at 28 so that the oscillation of the lever 24: will cause a similar movement of the rod 15.

The rod 15 normally assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. However as the mail bag enters the catcher it will be thrown with great force against the finger 21 and thus cause the rocking of the rod 15 until the cushion 19 engages the arm 13. In view of the great force by which the rod 15 is actuated it will be seen that the cushion 19 eifectually prevents injury or any dislodgment whatsoever of the arm 13. It will be seen that when the members are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the mail bag will be securely held in position and its accidental dislodgment effectually prevented. However when it is desired to remove the mail bag'the operator simply operates the handle 24: so as to draw the arm 15 to its normal position and, thus release the same.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily understood and therefore further detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing my invention to practice I find that the form referred to herein as the most practical and prefered embodiment is the most efficient, but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily vary in concurrence with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the detailsoi construction and.

in the proportion of parts may be resorted to when required without sacrificing any of an arm having an extension formed at one end, means pivotally connecting said ei;tensien with said mail bag catcher, an actuating finger projecting from said arm in proximity to and'in the opposite direction from said extension, said finger adapted to be engaged by the mail bag to rock said arm to retain said mail bag against displacement, a handle pivoted upon said mail bag catcher, a lug on said arm, and means connecting said handle and said lug whereby said handle may be operated to return said arm to its normal position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a mail bag catcher including a main arm and a supplementary arm projecting at an angle therefrom, of a retaining rod pivotally mounted on said mail bag catcher and normally extending in sub stantially parallel relation to said main arm, the outer end 01" said rod being bent and provided with a cushion member, an actuating finger carried by said rod adjacent its con nection with said mail bag catcher, a lug carried by said arm, a handle having one end pivotally mounted on one end of said mail catcher, means connecting said handle and said lug, said finger adapted to be engaged'by the mail bag to rock said rod to lock said mail bag against displacement and said handle being operable to return said rod to its normal position, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTON W. SCHMUTZER.

lVitnesses 2 FRED J. GEBHART, I. F. GEBHART. 

